Main Entry: en·ti·ty

Pronunciation: \ˈen-tə-tē, ˈe-nə-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural en·ti·ties

Etymology: Medieval Latin entitas, from Latin ent-, ens existing thing, from coined present participle of esse to be — more at is

Date: 1596

1 a : being, existence; especially : independent, separate, or self-contained existence b : the existence of a thing as contrasted with its attributes
2 : something that has separate and distinct existence and objective or conceptual reality
3 : an organization (as a business or governmental unit) that has an identity separate from those of its members